Why is this important?
Preparing for committees also referred to as ‘onboarding’ is the process of introducing new committee members to the people, tools, workflows, and expectations that shape the standards development process. It’s a time for members to ask questions, understand their role, and begin contributing meaningfully. Most importantly, it’s also a chance for chairs to set a welcoming tone and lay the foundation for accessible and inclusive collaboration.
Actions
Explore actions for inclusively prepping for committees:
Agree together how the committee will work
Action for Preparing for committees
Allocate a dedicated accessibility budget
Action for Budget , Organizing , and Preparing for committees
Be flexible with meeting time and timelines
Action for Facilitating , Preparing for committees , and Organizing
Ensure websites are accessible
Action for Organizing and Preparing for committees
Host onboarding meetings before committee work begins
Action for Preparing for committees
Manage access conflicts
Action for Facilitating , Organizing , Preparing for committees , and Workload
Plan for regular check-ins with new members
Action for Preparing for committees
Provide a welcome package for new members
Action for Preparing for committees
Provide guidance and ongoing support to new members
Action for Preparing for committees